What Marines carry in their BOB bags

Since there is some confusion over what should go into a BOB bag… I thought it might help if you see what is the standard US Marines Survival gear list… the following is right out of the Student handouts we give out right before hell week begins!

COMPONENTS FOR A SURVIVAL KIT
a. The environment is the key to the types of items you will need in your survival kit.
How much equipment you put in your kit depends on how you will carry the kit. A kit
on your body will have to be much smaller than one carried in a vehicle.
b. Always layer your survival kit, keeping the most important items on your body.
c. In preparing your survival kit, select items that can be used for more than one
purpose.
d. Your survival kit does not need to be elaborate. You only need functional items that
will meet your needs and a case to hold them. The case might be a first aid case, an
ammunition pouch, or another suitable case. This case should be-
(1) Water repellent or waterproof.
(2) Easy to carry or attach to your body.
(3) Suitable to accept various sized items.
(4) Durable.

e. When constructing a survival kit, you should have the following components:
(1) Fire starting items.
(2) Water procurement items.
(3) Food procurement items.
(4) Signaling items.
(5) First aid items.
(6) Shelter items.

2. ITEMS CONTAINED WITHIN EACH COMPONTENT
a. Fire Starting Equipment
(1) Matches.
(2) Magnifying glass.
(3) Flint and Steel.
(4) Lighter.
(5) Potassium Permanganate, with container of sugar or anti-freeze.
(6) Prepackaged Tinder.
-Commercially Manufactured
-Cotton Balls and Petroleum Jelly

b. Water Procurement Item.
(1) Water Disinfecting Chemicals.
-Iodine Tablets
-Betadine Solution
-Iodine Solution
-Bleach
(2) Metal Container. (Serves for boiling water)
-Canteen Cup
-Survival Kit Container
-Any Suitable can that contained no petroleum products.
2
(3) Water Carrying Items.
-Canteen
-Plastic Bag
-Plastic/Metal/Glass Container which contained no petroleum products.

c. Food Procurement Items.
(1) Fish.
-Various sized hooks
-Various sized sinkers/weights
-Metal leaders and swivels
-Small weighted jigs
-Fishing line
-Think about the size of fish for that environment when selecting weights and sizes.

(2) Game.
-Snares
*Commercially Manufactured
*Aircraft Cable
*Tie Wire/ Comm Wire
-Bait
*MRE Cheese Spread, Jelly, or Peanut Butter Package
*Fishing Bait
-550 Cord for Gill Net and Trap Construction
-Engineer/Marking Tape
-Sling shot rubber and pouch
-Large treble hooks

d. Signaling Items
(1) Day
-Mirror
-Whistle
-Pyrotechnics (Smoke, Pen Flares)
-Air Panels/ Brightly colored material

(2) Night.
-Pyrotechnics (Pen Flares, Star Clusters)
-Lights (Flashlight, Strobe, Chemlight)
-Whistle
-Buzz Saw


e. Shelter Items
(1) Cordage.
- 550 Cord.
- Wire.
-Communication wire
-Tie wire
(2) Finger Saw.

(3) Sewing Kit with Needles for construction/repair of clothing.

(4) Tentage.
-poncho
-space blanket

(5) Candle.

f . First Aid Items
(1) Band-Aids.
-Steristrips
-Adhesive Tape
-Non-stick pads, 4x4’s, Gauze, Battle Dressings
-Muslin Bandage
-Butter flies w/ Super glue

(2) Ointments.
-Burn
-Anti-septic

(3) Miscellaneous.
-Salt
-Sugar
-Eye Wash
-Alcohol prep pads
-Suture Kit
-Scalpel
-Vile of Yarrow

g. Miscellaneous items.
(1) Fingernail clippers.
4
(2) Compass.
(3) Notebook with pen or pencil.
(4) Wood eye screws and nails.
(5) Surgical tubing.
Note: It is assumed that the Marine is always carrying a high quality fixed bladed knife, multi-tool knife, and a sharpening stone.

How much does this kit weigh including food and water?

Originally posted by METACOMET
How much does this kit weigh including food and water?

Just a couple three pounds...
there is no food or water in this kit.. Food Procurement Items and water carrying items yes...
when they attend the Mountain warfare course they are there to learn how to acquire those items in the field... not carry them around...

Ok.
After reading so many of your threads, and all of the wonderful information you have, I have a better idea. Are you every in MI? I swear I would only pick your brain for a week...... or three!

Originally posted by chiefsmom
Ok.
After reading so many of your threads, and all of the wonderful information you have, I have a better idea. Are you every in MI? I swear I would only pick your brain for a week...... or three!

I was there three weeks ago... visiting another old retired Jar Head...he's in the Upper Peninsula...
BTW just for fun we took his dogs out into the woods and treed us a black bare... I got a crappy vid I took with my phone... I should post so you all can see... and before anyone gets all huffy... all we did was tree the bear...

reply to post by DaddyBare


Well, I won't get huffy! I would love to see it. And of course you were, just my luck!

reply to post by DaddyBare

Don't forget some kind of ID.

reply to post by NotThat


well since were talking about US Marines...
they are taught to destroy ID and any doc's that might give an enemy Intel....
in real world... yeah, you probably want your drivers lic passports and credit cards so when you get sick of living in the woods you can spend a night at the nearest Hilton

Good information DB.

Did I miss seeing a toothbrush?
My suggestion for snares is carry an old pack of electric guitar strings.
Mousetraps are a necessity anywhere you go IMO.

My minimal version of a B.O.B. would have:
Rain poncho/shelter half
Wool blanket made in to poncho
200ft. 550 paracord
Water filter - PUR hiker
Canteen/ Stainless steel canteen cup
Knife- Kbar or Mora
Small LED flashlight
Magnesium firestarter
Matches
Space blanket
Camo headnet - for camouflage and keeping bugs out of your eyes
Boonie hat
Bandana
Petersons Field guide to Wild Edible Plants
Spare pair of socks
Compass
Toothbrush
WW1 Army surplus gas mask bag to carry it in.

Thank you very much for the thread, DB. I have limited resources, especially when it comes to carrying/lifting/etc., and seeing the essentials lade out like this was really helpful.

S&F - and again, my thanks.

Doesn't BOB stand for 'bug out bag'? If so, isn't it a bit redundant to say "BOB bags"?

That's like when people say they're going to the "ATM machine."

So, you're going to the Automated Teller Machine machine?


I apologize for the off-topic post, it's just a pet peeve of mine.

Your right on, a well maintained bob is indispensible when whatever kind of SHTF occurs.
Just purchased another portable radio, this one with world band on it.

reply to post by DaddyBare


Do you suggest that ex-military carry their DD214?

Depending on the situation, I could see where I may not want to have any evidence at all regarding my military service, but on the other hand I could see myself raising my hand to volunteer for something if need be.

reply to post by Skewed


Naw...
when you get to be an old salt like me we don't need to see a DD214...
we just ask...What was your MOS... then we ask were you were stationed... from those answers we got a pretty good idea of your training and skills... things you don't find on the DD214...

reply to post by DaddyBare


Point taken.

I find myself asking those same questions to people I meet. If sincere, those questions are usually all that is needed.

But the DD214 does provide proof of service in a questionable situation.

also it would be a great idea to cary some star chats with you so that you can navigate at night, or at least find your own position. This is exspecially important if u find yourself in a desert environment where it is safer and easier to travel during the night. Some things that you can never have enough of are 550 cord ,duct tape a good knife(with sharpening stone), and some kind of survival manual. Knowledge is power so a reference book could be more valueble than any supples you already have. Also as most Marines like me know, panty hose can come in real handy, exspecially in the cold. Above all what most Marines carry with them as all should, is the ability to overcome any obstacle, and adapt to any situation. So there is my input. Semper Fi.

reply to post by DaddyBare


in your " string section "

ever buy
strings for a guitar,,
all sizes,,
compact,
cheap,
etc,,,
and sometimes readily available,, specially old ones


would the above make me a better Mast. Sgt.
or cia?
DD214????
u need papers?

dont forget us guys,, DD214????,, what tell hell is that?

Cant u just ask the guy?

and know?

DD214????

did i read "buzz saw"?
sounds like a light pack. ?

reply to post by BobAthome


The DD214 is the military discharge form.

Dont kill me

not related too BOB persay,,
but,, the most important thing a person , can have in an emergancy,god forbid,
is
their FIRST AID/ST. Johns amb. medical course,,

we call it ST.Johns here,
is there the same in U.S?